Improvement in tables and treadles for sewing-machines



3 Sheets--Sh-eet I. SIMON W. WARDWELL, Jr.

Improvement in Table and Treadle for Sewing Machines.

N0. 121,828,v Patented DEC-12,1871

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- 3 Sheets--Sheet 2.

SIMON W. WARDWELL, Jr.

lmprbvem en-t in Table and Treadle for Sewing Machines.

No. 121,828. Pa te nted Dec-12,1871.

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a 3Sheets--Sheet 3. SIMON-W. WARDWELL, Jr.

improvement in Table and Treadle for Sewing Machines.

No. 121,328, Patented Dec. 12, um

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* UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SIMON W. WARDINELL, Jlt, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALFHIS RIGHT TO GEORGE W. SHAW, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT lN TABLES AND TREADLES FOR SEWING-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 121,828, dated December12, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SIMON WV. WARDWELL, Jr., of the city and county ofSt. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Tables for Sewing-Machines, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the annexeddrawing making a part of this specification, in which Figure 1represents a front view of my table. Fig. 2 represents a side view ofsame in part. Figs. 3 and at represent, respectively, a top and Fig. 5represents a side view of the cover. Fig. 6 represents a transversesection of Fig. 3 at x 3 Fig. 7 repre' sents a side view at the samepoint, with a portion of the cover. Figs. 8,9,10, 11,12 representdetached views of portions of the operating mechanism, as will behereinafter shown.

Similar letters indicate like parts.

The object I have in view is to produce a sewing-machine table which maybe applied to or used with any of the machines now in use by a verysimple change in some of the connections of such machines, and whichwhen so applied will enable the operator to turn the bed-plate, with theworking parts of the machine, in a horizontal plane to any desiredextent, even to making a complete circle, and still allow the operatorto work the machine without moving from his position. I also produce auniform or rather continuous rotary motion of the driving-wheel, evenwhen the horizontal shaft giving motion to said wheel may have analternate circular motion, which is very apt to be the case with othersewingmachines. Another point attained is a comely cover, which when themachine is in use is removed entirely out of the way and yet remainsattached to the table.

A, Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4:, represents the table top, supported, as seen, bysuitable standards or framework. B, Figs. 1,2, represents the usualsandal treadles, to which is attached the pitman 0, made, as shown, of asingle rod, by means of a balland-socket joint, a. The other end of thispitman is hollowed to receive the ball I), Figs. 8,10,

, on the crank-shaft D, the latter being shown clearly in Fig. 8 andalso appearing in Figs. 1, 10. A cap, 0, Figs. 1, 11, 12, the latterfigures giving, respectively, a front and side view, likewise hollowed,fits over the ball 11 and the top of the pitman, and is secured to thelatter by a pin, as seen. The crank-shaft D finds its support andbearings in the forks d d, Figs. 1, 8, attached to the bottom of thebed-plate, as shown clearly in the former figure. On one end of theshaft D is an ordinary fly-wheel, E, Figs. 1, 8, and also adriving-wheel, H, and bevel-gear 6, Figs. 1, 8, the two latter workingloosely on the shaft D and connected together, as shown clearly in Fig.8. On the other end of the shaft D is another loose bevel-gear, h, Figs.1, 8. Engaging with these is a third bevel-gear, is, shown in the samefigures, and attached to a vertical shaft, as shown clearly in thelatter figure. On the inner face of the gears c and h is a projectingring, 0 0, Figs. 1, 8, 9, either cast with the wheels or firmly attachedto them. Radial arms m m, Figs. 1, 8, 9, having a slot in one end toreceive a stud or pin, a, passing through the crank-shaft D, and also aslot in one edge to receive the ring 0 0, as seen clearly in Fig. 9, areheld in position by the cranks of the shaft D and the face of the gearse h. In each of these arms is inserted one end of a spring, w, Fig. 9,the other end playing, as seen, against the inner periphery of the rings0 0. These free ends point in opposite directions in the two rings. Now,these radial arms m m being compelled to move with the crank-shaft, itis evident that as the shaft revolves in one direction or the other itwill act directly on but one of the gears e h, causing it to revolvewith it; for when the radial arm revolves in the direction indicated bythe arrow in Fig. 9 the spring will slide along the face of the ring 0without moving it; but when the arm moves in the opposite direction thefriction caused gives motion to the ring and its connected gear in thesame direction. The object, then, being to give a continuous rotarymotion to the driving-wheel, the spring on the radial arm attached tothe gear which is on the arm of the shaft carrying the driver must bearranged so that when it acts to set the gear in motion it shall carrythe driving-wheel in the desired direction; then, when by any chance, asin starting the machine, the crank-shaft is driven in the contrarydirection, the other radial arm and spring act upon the other gear,which communicates the desired motion to the driver through theconmeeting-gear on the vertical shaft, so that unless the crank hangs ona dead-center the machine may be set in motion by the treadles alone,without any care as to whether the crank revolves in the one directionor the other. The bed-plate, which may be represented by (l. of whatevershape it may be, will rest upon a ring, a, revolving in a seat made forit in the table top, as shown in Figs. 3, 4, while beneath the bed-plate1 will be another ring, t, Figs. 3, 4, (i. T, having two flangedprojections, r r, Fig. 4. r, Figs. 3, ti, 7, by which it is connectedwith the outer ring). Between these rings is a sliding cover, 1, Figs.1, 2, 5, formed of several leaves, 1) p, &c., work ing together, as seenin Fig. 5, so that the machine may readily be covered or uncovered, thecovers sliding apart and vanishing beneath the table, as clearly shown,and leaving the whole surface of the table free. The two parts of thecover may be kept together when closed by any suitable lock or otherfastening. The leaves of the cover work on pivots passing through theouter ring a and the ring 2, as shown elearly in Fig. 7 at 2'.

One of the advantages of my table is that it can be worked by any onewho knows how to work any of the sewiug-ma-chines in use, since by itthe fabric to be sewed may be made to move in either direction theoperator may desire; so that one who is accustomed only to a machine inwhich the fabric moves at right angles to the front of the table canhave the fabric move in that direction, and one who can work no machineunless the fabric moves in a line parallel with the front of the tablecan arrange the table ac cordingly. Very many persons are unable to usea machine on accountot' the injurious elt'ects of operating thetreadles; but with my table this is entirely obviated, as the one whooperates the treadles may be on one side of the table, while the onemanipulating the work may sit at either end or on the opposite side ofthe table, and in each position direct the work equally well.

The cover, as shown, is entirely out of the way while the machine isbeing used, remaining attached to the table, and, as seen, becoming aguard to the working parts below, instead of the table which otherwisewould be useful.

The peculiar attachment of the pitman and crankshaft dispenses with anyjoints in the former which would be necessary were the conneetion madein any other way.

When all the parts are made of metal the operation will be comparativelynoiseless, though if the gear k be made of wood there will be much lessnoise.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to seeure by Letters Patent,is-

1. The gears 11 c it, radial arms m m, and rings 0 o, with the springs20 w, in combination with a crank-shaft, substantially as shown andspecitied.

2. The combination of the gears h e k, radial arms m m, springs 10 w,rings 0 o, crank-shaft l) with its ball I), pitman (J, treadles 13,plate G, and rings t a, all constructed and arranged sul stantially asand for the purpose shown and specified.

3. The combination of a sewing machine table and cover 1 formed ofleaves pp, &e., when constructed and operating substantially as shownand specified.

4. The combination of the cover I with the revolving plate G and tableA, as and for the purpose shown and specified.

5. A sewing-machine table combining a revolving plate, G, and operatingmechanism in the manner described, so that said plate and the sewingmachine connected therewith may be made to revolve in a horizontal planeat the will of the operator without interfering with the action of suchmechanism.

S. W. WARDWELL, JR.

\Vitnesses SAML. S. BOYD,

